Batman: Arkham Asylum Game of the Year Edition

A great show of the beginning of the Arkham series. Especially great for people that have low-end computers

The game that changed the genre and give us games like Shadow of mordor, Mad max and spiderman. Almost 15 years later its release it feels fresh and fun. This game is why I became more interested in the world of batman.

15 years ago Rocksteady Studios, with Batman: Arkham Asylum, did something that is objectively very, VERY hard to do - make an original story by using the IP and almost all of it's characters to the fullest with the appropriate location, that being Arkham Asylum, used to the maximum.

The plot is good as it fits Batman's world to a T, almost to the point that you can treat this game as a self-contained story. No real twists and turns that weren't obvious from the get-go, but for what it's going for it doesn't really need them. Voice acting was stellar all around, especially the late Kevin Conroy - hear him utter one sentence and you'll know you're hearing THE Batman.

Gameplay-wise is kind of a mixed-bag. Clue-hunting and detective work is neat and I'm glad the devs haven't ignored one of Batman's abilities, that being his detective skills.

Stealth is also pretty decent and I do like the few mixups they put in to keep the whole game of "permanent detective mode & hanging from gargoyles" from becoming stale. In later levels you actually have to put some thought into it, especially during the sections where stealth is a must or you get a game over.

Combat on the other hand...

From someone who played a lot of character action games, It's serviceable. Don't get me wrong, you do feel like you're in control of THE Batman when you start punching & kicking thugs left & right - the issue I have is balance-related. Normal difficulty and below is too boring and too mind-numbing, so I went immediately towards Hard and I have to say - the challenge WAS there and it was very welcome.

There are several issues with this.

See, Normal difficulty and below gives you a warning sign above the enemy when they're about to attack - something that is completely absent on Hard, as you have to gauge when the enemy is going to attack. Usually it's the first enemy that is rushing at you, so you know when to have that counter-attack input ready.

The problem arises when it comes to a few boss fights that change the camera angle, either large bosses OR large arenas. This is where the lack of a warning sign can be sometimes crippling since the focus either becomes too much on the boss so the jobbers can sneak upon you and get a free hit OR the camera is so far that you can barely see the attack animation.

My second issue with the combat is the i-frame inconsistency.

Regular dodging does diddly d!ck, especially against larger enemies whose entire gimmick is rushing towards you. However, the one dodge that DOES work is the frog leap you do over regular mobs. Except when it doesn't. On Hard difficulty where everything hurts a lot more, these inconsistencies can lead to a lot of BS game-overs.

Game is of medium length only if you take the time to explore every single nook & cranny, but pretty short if you just follow the main story. Extra content is thankfully there in forms of combat & stealth challenges, though having a playable Joker for those being a PS3 exclusive is bullshiet, but it is what it is.

But in the end, I do recommend Arkham Asylum to both diehard fans of Batman and those who heard of him in passing. The Arkham games go for absolute dirt cheap when they're on sale, so once you see the almighty green number next to the slashed price - do yourself a favor, buy it, play it on Hard and then flex to your discord server dedicated to racist memes about how you finished Arkham Asylum at its most difficult.

Is there a lore reason why this game is good?
Jokes aside, if you enjoy this game, I recommend playing the other Batman Arkham games.

Absolute classic. Boss fights suck ass but the rest of the game is goated.

the first batman media i got to experience , loved every part of the game , combat is fluent and the stealth mechanics are cool , story is 10/10 (in my opinion one of the best games of all time)

Okay, so the graphics and fighting in this game are seriously good, way better than some new stuff out there. BUT... the bug where buildings are just EMPTY is a HUGE pain. Had to hunt down internet saves for every single mission inside, which is like, all the time. Super annoying and broke the flow. It's an old game, so whatever, but this issue is a real killer. Still, when it works, it's pretty awesome.

The beginning of an amazing trilogy that I love dearly. But this game is definitely dated, its sometimes kind of clunky and the combat can not make sense sometimes (feels unrefined) like you will sometimes not go to an enemy when you press attack like most of the other times you do which is annoying. And the time it takes for you to lose your combo is really strict for how much slower this game is compared to the other games combat wise. But this is my favourite setting out of the games hands down, the creepy dark dingy asylum and the tapes omg. SO GOOD, genuinely gave me chills (zsasz's is terrifying) ntm the scarecrow sections and crocs lair. Mwah. 6.5/10 story game more then combat would arrest riddler again

Batman: Arkham Asylum (or just AA) revolutionized the superhero game world. Rocksteady proved themselves to Warner Bros. that they could make an astounding game and set themselves up for success with Batman: Arkham City (Arkham Asylum's sequel). I can't even know where to start with this game. It is just amazing. If you love Batman, or if you love action, horror, good story, REALLY good combat, I couldn't recommend this enough. Even if you dislike anything I just listed, buy it and play it anyways. I GUARANTEE you will never THINK of refunding this game.

very good game has a good story and different type of immersion look and feel of the game is something you cant get from anything new

It's still good. And as I replay this over 10 years later I've entirely forgotten about the ScareCrow encounter. Timeless? Maybe not, but still pretty damn good game.

The game was very fun to play but the final joker fight was a bit disappointing.

Second playthrough after a year,what a fun game

Combat is a bit clunky, but still holds up as one of the best Arkham games.

I REALLY wanted to be able to give this a positive review, but after a certain point, the game just becomes an endless slog of boss fight after bossfight, where it's the same trash mechanics of "throw batarang at thing, dodge a millisecond later or else you lose a quarter of your health, fight against the ENDLESS waves of normal enemies that are attacking you throughout the batarang dodge"

anyways
haha, officer balls

What is there to say its a masterpiece and an all time classic

even tho the game approach is linear compared to the sequels, this game still holds up 16 years later. always wanted to play batman games, this game is definitely a good start and an introduction to the character of batman. using gadgets too felt good and the atmosphere of the asylum too is pretty good

Combat is a bit clunky, but still holds up as one of the best Arkham games.

The game isn’t about being Batman; it’s about consuming a pre-approved fantasy of Batman. The asylum itself is a metaphor for the player’s relationship with the game—a controlled environment designed to elicit specific emotional responses. The villains aren’t threats to Gotham; they’re narrative devices to validate Batman’s power fantasy. The “Game of the Year” designation is a marketing construct, signifying industry validation, not artistic merit.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is near perfect:
This game started the Arkham verse and yet people say it's janky and not worth playing compared to the others... I mean they're right about the jank but it still has the least flaws out of any Arkham game. The atmosphere is easily the best in the series, the story feels like an amalgamation of A Serious House On A Serious Earth and the Batman animated series. The boss fights while lacking in depth make up in spectacle, the villian selection is outstanding! (stand outs being Joker and Riddler) This game has aged like fine wine, I find myself replaying this more than any other Arkham game. I cant recommend this game enough!

Final Rating 5/5 MT APPROVED MASTERPIECE!

A Dark, Gripping Masterpiece – Still One of the Best Superhero Games Ever Made

Batman: Arkham Asylum is an unforgettable journey into the darkest corners of Gotham’s most infamous prison. Even after all these years, it holds up remarkably well thanks to its atmospheric storytelling, tight gameplay, and a brilliant voice cast.

You truly feel like the Dark Knight — whether you’re silently taking down enemies in Predator encounters, delivering bone-crunching combos in Freeflow combat, or solving Riddler’s clever challenges. The level design is smart, with Metroidvania-style progression that encourages exploration once you unlock new gadgets.

The story is engaging from start to finish, driven by Mark Hamill’s iconic Joker and Kevin Conroy’s perfect Batman. The tone is gritty, the music is intense, and the visuals still manage to impress despite their age.

If you enjoy stealth, action, and story-driven games, Arkham Asylum is a must-play. It set the standard for superhero games and remains a classic worth revisiting.

Rating:
9.5/10 – A near-perfect blend of action, stealth, and storytelling.

This is the game that started it all and gave inspiration to so many others with the exceptional freeflow combat. Even though the game is dated right now, the game play holds up very well. The semi open world is meticulously crafted, the story is pretty well written, the one area this game lacks a little bit are the boss fights. Must own!

IM LOVING IT SO FAR AS EXPECTED

But

Why on Earth do I need an internet connection for this singleplayer game??? The game saves every time you go through a door, so if I loose connection for one second, I'm forced back to the menu, and have to redo everything I did.

Best batman game ever! I have already played Arkham knight a little and I own (but haven't played) Arkham City.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is the greatest comic book videogame of all time. This is an adult Dark Knight story that is well-told, packs some truly fun gameplay elements, has topnotch voice talent, and feel like it's part of Batman canon. If I have to nitpick, I wish the cutscenes looked better as they can distract from the tale and that the AI was a bit more responsive, but those are tiny flaws that shouldn't distract from the big picture.

Rocksteady nailed what Batman is supposed to feel like. Fans, rejoice.

Simply put, this is one the most impactful and genre defining titles within the superhero genre. While it does show some of its age, Arkham Asylum remains the one that "started it all" for modern hero games. If you like Batman, superhero games, or just game history, give this one a playthrough!

The first game in the Batman Arkham series. The combat is kinda janky compared to future games but still very fun. I feel the Asylum atmosphere captures the darkness of Gotham better especially the moments where you deal with lunatics. Overall a fun game.

It may not be perfect but for the first in the arkham series it's actually pretty good, + the game doesn't have a gigantic map like the others so it's really easy to get missions done quickly.

In my entire life i have gotten platinum in this game 4 times in total. and it is obvious that i quite love it. In fact, it is my favorite game in the arkham series.
The atmosphere of the asylum fascinates me even after 17 years with its unique combination of a technologically advanced prison with an almost mystical aura of a madhouse. Exactly in this game i feel like Batman, who looks into the faces of the most notorious maniacs and psychopaths of Gotham without flinching a muscle.
The plot, of course, can be described in one sentence, but, to some extent, this is what i like about it because this is all i need from a game, based on a comics. Villains do villainy, Batman fixes everything. i am especially pleased with the details of the Asylum itself, on almost every corner you can find a reference to one or another comic book character, which sheds light on the lore of the game and makes it clear that Batman has been in business for a long time and has already dealt with certain number of foes at this point.
Yes, the sequels have made great strides in terms of gameplay, but this game will forever remain in my heart as one of the most unique gaming experiences I have ever had.

clearly a lot of love went into this game. definitely aging but has a great atmosphere

Great game according to its time but lacks on some parts but definitely recommended as it's so cheap and a good start to the Arkham verse

I have played this game on Xbox 360 when it launched when I was a kid. I forced my siblings and friends to play it several times in my childhood. I've played it on the xbone and even here on steam. It is one of my all time favorite games. it is so focused and fun, with a lot of aspects to it that make it infinitely re-playable for me (I bet I have beaten it over a hundred times total). It is a true measure of a games quality that the only reason it feels outdated is because its sequels are THAT much better. If not for sequels this game would be heralded as a gem of the video game world up there with the spider-man 2 movie tie in game.

It's gritty and even unsettling at times. I never read the comics, but I've seen some of the animated movies and Mark Hamill always delivers.
This was my first Batman game, recently starting on a PC gaming journey this game fit into exactly what I was looking for. Great story, combat is fun, and it's pretty straightforward. Looking forward to completing the game!

A game that surpassing expectations. The combat mechanic is satisfying and the stealth mechanic is so unique. I mean, instead of hiding from enemies to not alert them, we will act as the terror

R.I.P. old Rocksteady.
The gameplay gets slightly repetitive and you need to do some backtracking to 100% the story but man does that look like nothing in comparison to the introduction to a great combat system that is easy to learn but tough to master.
I forgot how difficult this game can get if you do the end-game challenge modes.

All in all a great classic and a short one too. Its rare to find a game now that respects my time

I can see why this game was especially beloved when it came out. It's fun, gameplay's interesting, and it doesn't overstay its welcome. Even the side content was fun to do.

superhero games are generally boring but this one was very good with many iconic villeins good story and scary batman. we are not stuck with bad guys on island. bad guys are stuck with us we are hunters and that feels so cool

although game itself was good there was some rendering thread exception error with crashes game every 15-20 minutes (at least on my device even thou i had enough system requirements to run game)

i hope other games in series don't have these errors

but anyways 200 rs bundle its steal deal gives you so many hours of content

This game is an old one, but a great one. The beginning of the Arkham series is one to behold. The gameplay is fun and the story is engaging. The gameplay isn't as great as other Arkham games but it is still very good, you can just tell they improved a few things in City. This game's atmosphere is very amazingly done, it really makes Arkham Asylum feel like hell on Earth which is a very accurate depiction. All in all, if you're looking for a superhero game and whether you're already an Arkham fan or not, this is a great game to try out.

I am Batman :DDDD Most of time i was thinking DC on of best universe of cartoons i enjoy vibe of JOCKER , HARLEY QUINNE , BATMAN and other heroes. Something like just good game with fights and City Gotham . Lot of People psycho crazy laughing like Jocker i played few games online . This game i enjoy collect achivments and cards other staff . I belive this kind of game more build to play on consoles like xbox x and playstation 5 pro on joystick . But if i play on Pc or laptop its fine works cool long time ago this game was cool graphics 2010 people being testing computer system for fps .
My full collection of Batman games are all cool . Not new ones but this staff are really cool i recommend it for everyone. :D
Comix us well some people collecting everything marvel and dc universe :D depeds from choose.

Overall Good, combat is junky but overall great story, great visuals for it's time and great puzzles. Puzzles can be irritating to solve as in finding vents to enter or how to enter a particular building but when you find the way, you realize it was right in front of you, good brain exercise. IT'S FUN

Very exited and wonderful game, I recommended it for everyone.

this game not recomend, because this game have alot bug and always not rendering, when u open the door

Very fun game 9/10 about 10 hrs worth of story content plus lots of collectables to go around looking for adding to the batman lore. Still holds up for a 16 yr old game.

have been enjoying the game and somewhat new to PC. took me some time but, finally set my PS5 controller up to play this awesome game once again this time on PC instead of PlayStation.

I wholeheartedly recommend this game. Batman: Arkham Asylum is my personal comfort game. I have completed it many times across Xbox 360, PS3, PS4/PS5, and now here on Steam.

This game is the first story based game I ever played, and oh boy was I so grateful to be able to play this game. The atmosphere of this game is very awesome, I can really feel the intense situation of the prison breakout and how scary it is to be Batman, to face those madman. But don't be scared, be courageous. Face your fears. The combat in this game feels awesome, kapoow. And the puzzles are fun, but I feel that it is sometimes difficult to find the alternative way to enter a building.. have to search it up on the internet. But that is not a problem at all for this game.
Thank you Rocksteady for this beautiful game.

BUY THIS GAME. YOU MUST, it is so affordable when sale comes.
Peace.

Serinin ilk oyunu olduğu için bazı eksiklikleri olsa da oyunlardaki combat sistemi için devrim niteliğinde bir yapımdı hakkı ödenmez.

this,may be one of the greatest video entertainment media pieces of tyhis generaTION, I AM LIVE THIS GAMEii am love natman iam amlove video game iam love batman i em batem i loveing batman videogame creatyest sense of bataamen jonkler is ibest in game play game or i corrupt your soul. cheese.

I remember playing this game back when I was a kid. This brought back so many good memories for me and I am so happy to have gotten the chance to play this game again.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a classic superhero game that redefined the genre and inspired so many games that came after it with its combat system. Games such as Marvel's Spider-Man, Mad Max and the Middle Earth: Shadow series all took cues from the combat system designed in this game.

Pros: The story is a classic Batman: The Animated Series style story that includes more famous villains than you would expect for the series's first outing. The graphics still hold up relatively well for a game released in 2009 with the lighting and especially the smoke effects being pretty impressive. The combat system is a perfect combination of being intuitive to understand and also having a high skill ceiling. The challenge mode offers a real test of your skills. It is a very satisfying and punchy system. The collectibles are also pretty interesting and there are not too many to become repetitive and/or grindy.

Cons: The boss fights are way too easy and simplistic; I wish they had incorporated more of the abilities you unlock into the mechanics of the fight. The final boss is the most disappointing one of all. The game is a little on the short side especially if you just focus on the main mission and you don't explore.